A 432Hz Tuning frequency

[cozmik_cowboy]

SRv tuned pretty low, too, AIR.  But then he'd have to, as he pretty much strung his Strats with bass cables.....

Peter

[mario_farufyno]

Hendrix and Chuck Berry played at Eb as many guitarrists in Jazz or Blues who played years with trumpet and saxes did, and for the same reason: they prefer play in their natural key because it is easier to them (Eb and Bb) and some guitarrist aparently can't play without using open strings, or don't want to play too high on neck. Nothing esoteric as far as seems to me.

[hieronymous]

I was also going to mention Hendrix as someone who de-tuned his guitar.

Harry,
Cool that you are into gagaku. If you ever do another similar ceremony and it is okay I would love to come check it out.

I first became aware of gagaku through the poetry of Steve Richmond and was fortunate to get to catch a performance of gagaku music up in Portland in the early 90s. I used to collect Charles Bukowski first editions and Buk was a friend and fan of Steve's which is how I found out about his poetry. Not sure what frequency he tuned his poetry to but am certain it was an unusual one....

"Steve Richmond, along with friend and mentor Charles Bukowski, dominated the outlaw post mimeo revolution poetry scene of the 1970s and 1980s. He was a friend of the iconic rock star Jim Morrison, who was also a poet. Fiercely independent and poised against the academic literary establishment—what critic Ben Pleasants called the “poetry mafia”—Richmond invented a poetical style influenced by Japanese Shinto court music known as “Gagaku.” Driven by inner demons and fueled by drugs he produced thousands of poems over a thirty year period prior to his death in 2009. Gagaku Reader, the Life and Poetry of Steve Richmond is a selection of his best work."

Wow - poetry influenced by gagaku - that's hard to imagine!

[sonicus]

I own an old brass instrument that is about 100 years old , my Baritone Horn that has two tuning slides . One for 440 and one for 432 " High and Low tuning ". That was  manufactured at a time in the USA when many folks were " on the fence" on what should be a standard . It is in great condition still . I had the valves rebuilt a few years ago .

[tomhug]

432 is less than one tenth of a tone from 440. I think detuning is interesting, but 432 is very subtle. I don't find it that compelling.

Tuning an entire tone lower Eb tuning is more interesting to me and the fact that Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughn, and many others chose to do it adds a bit more weight. I think Hendrix did it because of bends and probably also from Albert King (who played upside down, in Em tuning (C-B-E-G-B-E))

I've been in a band that kept Eb as the standard. That was cool, but not mind-blowing. Made it easy to play along with Hendrix and SRV albums, though.

Weird side note: I host a jam and two guys showed up and insisted on playing in 432. They played too loud, refused to turn down, and when confronted, became belligerent, insulted the regulars, and threatened the hosts. Definitely not the harmonious new-age vibes commonly associated with 432, although YMMV :-)